Women in Science

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The Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB-CSIC) is committed to the visibility, advancement and promotion of the careers of women in science, and feels a strong responsibility to inspire and nurture female vocations in disciplines within the STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine).

For over a decade, CIB has presented sex-disaggregated statistics of women scientists in the institute. In 2018, out of a total staff of 510 people, 58.4% are women and 52.8% of scientists are women, including predoctoral students. Analyzing the distribution within the different levels in the research career, CIB has 40 women with postdoctoral positions (versus 32 men), 23 tenured scientist (vs. 11 men), 9 investigators (vs. 18 men) and 4 professors (vs. 22 men). Indeed, the proportion of women in the higher scientific levels is low, particularly, only 15% of the Professors are women, a number clearly below average in the area.

All committees and selection boards in the institute meet parity criteria.

Female scientist members of our faculty board are and have been part of the Commission of Women and Science of the CSIC, a pioneering committee in Spain formed in 2002, that ensures recognition of the work of women scientists and progress in their professional career, as well as promoting the study of the possible causes hindering women from advancing in their scientific careers and proposing different actions to achieve equality between women and men. These efforts made in 2017, for the first time, the proportion of women scientist at the Professor level to reach the 25% threshold at CSIC.

The CIB has a special interest in highlighting the work of women scientists and their role in society. In this context, the CIB actively participates in the annual campaigns of visibility of women scientists at all times and particularly on February 11th (International Day of Women and Girls in Science) and March 8th (International Women's Day), presenting lectures in schools and institutes and participating in events specifically designed to celebrate these commemorations.

The CIB aims to make it as easy as possible for both female and male scientists to combine family life with research. CIB complies with the current regulation for maternity/paternity leave and supports offering the optimal conditions for pregnant women at work. There is a private breastfeeding room available for mothers who choose to return to work whilst still breastfeeding. Moreover, CSIC has a kindergarten available for children whose parents work at any center of this organization.

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